Safety on Board.

[Alasgun]

I work in one of the safest environments on the planet. My employer is committed to achieving 0 incidents during the next year. Our incident rate is already below.1 which is considered world class.
Long story short, I participate at an extreme level of training etc. as do all 1000 employees of this remote location.
This level of involvement has created a different culture among myself and fellow workers and we regularly trade stories from home about how this or that item learned at work was applied at home to everyones betterment.
By now your wondering what this has to do with boating? As I age and enjoy a different perspective than say 30 years ago, I am routinely looking for less painful ways to do various things. I recently completed a folding step that will fasten half way from the cockpit sole to the top of the gunnel and make that Long step shorter. Once I get it installed, I will post pictures. Right now It's still totally doable but in the near future it will seem longer and longer, hence I am taking the initiative to correct the problem before there is one.
I guess writing this was inspired, if that's a good choice of words, by the recent thread on M.O B retrieval devices. I would encourage each of you to put some thought into your own getup, young or old you will probably find room for improvement in your personal gear or methods of operation. Things happen quickly and with out vast experiences to draw from you could find yourself lacking during a tough moment! Take some time and look over everything from the ground up and ask your self could this hurt me? Weigh the risk and correct those that are most obvious. Then some other day correct another one or two.
Don't get me wrong here, I'm not an advocate of the OSHA Cowboy thing, just trying to offer some gentle prodding that may help you enjoy your boating years longer.
Mike (former boy scout) Be Prepared!

[Dreamer]

Mike,

Well put and right on target. We found the need for additional man overboard equipment only after attempting for 15-20 minutes to retrieve a diver who had been in Puget Sound waters for 2.5 hours. One does not merely grab a diver or any other person and haul him on board.

Within the last two weeks, two lady friends of ours have been injured, falling aboard boats. One broke several ribs in the most common of boating accidents, falling into an open lazarette hatch.

Thanks for bringing this important topic to light.

[thataway]

Definately an important subject. When I put together medical kits for cruisers, it was a requirement that I went aboard their boat for a safety inspection--this was not your Flares and horns type. We looked for sharp corners which would break ribs, or metal/plastic which would cut. Toe jammers, finger breakers were also included. I insisted on proper fiddles on counters and gimbled stoves, with pot holders, plus a way of counterbalancing the stove with the oven door open.

Another safety feature was wearing a waterproof apron and boots when cooking. We looked at windlasses and potential of broken fingers. Meat hooks on rigging or life lines can be the source of a serious injury.

I certainly agree on a step--Wlhen I picked up the C D 25, I was surprised that there was not a step there--it is just too far to "jump" up or down. There might even be a section on safety improvements--like anchoring, fuel etc. Great idea! (another of my past life "oh by the way" jobs was the OSHA officer for a large university)

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[Forty Two]

First safety upgrade to our boat was to replace the stock finger-biting hinged pilot seat with a one-piece seat.